Electrical controller



Sept. 4, 1928.

A. SIMON ELECTRI CAL CONTROLLE R Filed Feb. 2 1 '2 Sheets-Sheet l ILJINVENTOR. Mm fi/imm BY A TTORNEY Sept. 4, 1928. 1,682,938

' A. SIMON ELECTRICAL CONTROLLER Filed Feb. 2. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i iA V L d 2 3 x. J 3 4 a 5 '13 I I V 26 7O 2* WHITE F001 wmTE MASTER &/110% g v fi 3e ol 7+ :2? 44. 25 W 55- as: .J

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mid WW BY Q W A TTORNEY' Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITE-D STATES ARTHUR SIMON, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THECUTLER-HAMMER m. 00., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION WISCONSIN.

ELECTRICAL CONTROLLER.

This invention relates to electrical controllers, and while not limitedthereto, is particularly a plicable in illumination control systems ortheatres and the like.

An object of the invention is that of concentrating, simplifying andgenerally improving the arrangement of the various Vo luntary controlinst-rumentalities employed in such systems.

Another object is'that of concentrating and improving the structure ofsuch instrumentalities and promoting standardization andinterchangeability thereof.

Another, and more specific object. is that of providing a simple, ruggedand reliable unit embodying the instrumentalities necessary to controlan individual load circuit and adaptable, without substantialmodification, to the needs of other coordinate c1rcuits.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a control unit embodying featuresof the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view substantially at right angles to theplane of Flg. 1' a Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing arrangement,circuit connections and functions of such unit; while,

Fig. 4 is also a diagrammatic view showing a proposed physicalarrangement of the units.

Referring first to Fig. 3 of the drawing, the same illustratesdiagrammatically and in simplified form a type of theatre dimmer towhich the present structure has been particularly adapted, although itis to be understood that the physical elements of the con troller areequally applicable to other types of dimmer and other control.

In said figure are illustrated lamp load circuits 5, 6, 7and 8 typifyingthe various lamp circuits ordinarily employed in theatres and the like,and for convenience and f clarity of description being designatedrespcctively as white foot, white border, red foot and red bordercircuits. Said circuits are adapted to be energized from a suitablesource, or sources, of alternating current indicated at L L subject tocontrol by means of individual variable reactors 9, 10, 11 and 12 andrelays 13, 14, 15 and 16 which latter serve to control continuity of therespective load circuits.

The reactors 9 to 12 may be of known or conventional form each tocomprise A. C. coils 17 and 18 and a control or pilot coil 19 to heenergized from a source such as L L of unidirectional current oroptionally of alternating current of lower frequency than that of linesL L Said coils are related in a known manner such that variation in anelectrical condition such as current or voltage of the energizationsupplied to the coil 19 serves to vary the inductance of the coils 17and 18 and thereby to vary the intensity of illumination of the lampscontrolled by the reactor, whereas the degree of energization of thecoil 19 required to efi'ect'such control may be exceedingly small ascompared to the value ofenergy carried in the load circuits, wherebysuch coil 19 and the parts directly associated therewith may be of muchreduced size and capacity and of simplified construction.

Rheostats 20, 21, 22 and 23 provide for control of the energization ofthe respective coils 19 associated with the several reactors wherebyeach rheostat serves to control the value of energization of the lampsof a particular circuit. I

The relays 13 to 16 are each provided with a closing coil 24 and anopening coil 25 to be energized from supply lines L and L and each ofsaid relays is further adapted to remain in either closed or openposition until positively actuated to the other position.

The closing coils 24 of the respective relays are provided withindividual voluntarily operable switches 26, 27, 28 and 29, whereas theopening coils are controllable individually by similar switches 30, 31,32

and 33. Each of said switches 26 to 33 is group being provided for eachcolor of the illumination to be controlled, in the present instance two,the white color master group comprising an on switch 34 and an oifswitch 36 and the red color master group similarly comprising an onswitch and an off switch 37. Said color master switches are eachstructurally and functionally similar to the individual control switchesjust described, each serving inone on position to connect each of thecoils whose control circuit has been relayed thereto directly across thesupply circuit and also serving in its-opposite on position to furtherextend the control of such coils to the appropriate grand master switch.The grand master switches 38 and 39 may also be made structurallysimilar to those aforedescribed. However, the same when moved to eitheron position serve simply to connect across the supply circuit the C011or coils Whose control has been relayed thereto.

The control of the several rheostats 20 to 23 may be preferably relayedmechanically through the red and white color intensity control levers 40and 41 to a master intensity control lever .42 substantially asillustrated although of course this feature is not absolutely essential.

Each of relays 13 to 16 is also provided with an auxiliary contact 4?;serving, when its associated relay is closed, to effect energization ofa pilot light 44 thereby providing visible indication as to the open orclosed condition of the individual lamp load circuits.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the individual control for eachlamp circuit may consist of but two double throw manual switches, arhcostat and a ilot lamp, whereas the various groups 0 master switchesmay comprise fewer but not more elements whereby a unit embracing theaforementioned elements is entirely ade uate to the needs of anyindividual switch group, whereas in certain instances, as in the. colorand grand master switches, the pilot lights may be omitted. Also sincesuch instrumentalities are required to handle onl pilot or controlcurrents of small magnitu e as compared with that of the load currents,such parts may all be of reduced size and capacity and of compact andsimplified construction.

Referring to Figs. 1- and 2, the same illustrate such a switch unitcomprising a pair of double throw switches such as 26 and 30, a rhcostatsuch as 20 and a pilot light 44.

A suitably flanged support indicated generally at 45 serves. to sustainand also preferably to house any desired number of such units, thenecessary or desired number of supports together with their associatedunits constituting the controller switch board.

A switch plate 46, which in practice may comprise a single casting orthe like is ada ted to have the aforementioned )arts of t e unit boltedor otherwise secured t ereto for support thereby. Said plate 46' isprovided with projecting flanges 47 and 48 to rest upon and be securedto the corre and thereby afford access to the adjacent surfaces of saidtwo bases. If desired the foregoing parts may preferably be so designedand proportioned as to provide for securement thereof in assembledrelation by common means such as the bolts 52 illustrated. The rhcostatcontactor 53 and its operat ing means may be of conventionalconstruction, the contactor being preferably carried by the usualoperating lever 54 and spring biased to engage the various turns of theresistor substantially as shown in a usual manner. The operating lever54 is itself mounted preferably upon a shaft 55 and movable withreference thereto but provided with conventional means such as thoseillustrated for locking the same to said shaft.

The pilot lamp 44 which may also be of known construction, is preferablycarried by 3 and within a suitable socket provided in the switch plate46 as shown.

The switches 26 and 30 are preferably of similar construction,eachcomprising a pair of similar spring pressed fixed contacts 56 eachcarried by an angle bracket 57 bolted to the base 49 to provide opposedpositioning and suitable spacing of the respective pairs of contacts asshown. Similar flexible contactors 58,- 58, which in practice may beconsimilar operating means comprising a double faced cam element 60mounted for oscillation upon a suitable stafi'fil projecting from thebase 49. A suitable operating handle is formed integral with orotherwise suitably secured to each cam element. Further, said element isparticularly designed, preferably substantially as shown, whereby uponmove-' ment of .the switch handle in one direction, as to the right, forclosure of the right hand contacts the resiliency of the latter ismaintained effective for causing o ening of the switchautomatically'when re ease'd. However, upon movement of the switchhandle to the left the active cam projection tends to become cocked,whereas the flat portion (32 of the cam element comes into register withthe unactuated contactor whereby the resiliency of the latter serves, inconjunction with the aforementioned cocking action to maintain theclosed contacts in closed relation until positively released. Also theresiliency of both eontactors serves to bias the operating members totheir intermediate or neutral position wherein both switches are open.In ractice the right hand contactors of each switch which thus requireholding 1n closed relation are preferably so connected in circuit as tocontrol the connection of their associated relay coils directly to thesupply circuit, whereas the left hand contacts, which do not requiresuch holding, are arranged to control the connection of the coil to themaster switches.

A suitable face plate 63 is arranged to cover the aforedescribedinstrumentalities, being secured to the switch plate 46 and the housing45 preferably as illustrated, said plate having suitable openings forthe swltch operating members and for the lamp 44 and being furtherprovided at its edge with an interrupted portion as illustrated at 64 toreceive the rheostat lever 54 and permit operation thereof. By theforegoing arrangement the face plate may be removed laterally withreference to the rheostat lever, the projecting portions of the otherlevers being also shaped to permit such removal.

Also the general arrangement of the unit is such as to permit side byside mounting of any desired number of units with their several faceplates abutting one another laterally as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4.Further, it is apparent that any necessary or desired number of suchrows of units may be banked one above the other as illustratedparticularly in Fig. 4. Thus the extreme compactness of arrangement towhich the aforedescribed system of units lends itself is strikinglyapparent, whereas the individual units, being required to handle onlypilot circuits, may be of minimum size, capacity and complexity.

Referring again to Fig. 3 of the drawing, the various circuitconnections of the controller may be described as follows: The circuitof the lamps 5 extends from line L by conductor 65 through relay 13thence by conductor 66 through coils l7-and 18 of the reactor 9 andthrough lamps 5 to line L. The other lamp circuits are preciselysimilar.

The control circuit for the reactor 9 extends from line L by conductor67 through coil 19 of said reactor, thence by conductor 68 throughrheostat 20 and by conductor 69 to line L, whereas the other controlcurrent circuits are also similar to that last traced.

The energizing circuit of the closing coil ductors 74 and 7 5 to grandmaster switch 38 and through said latter switch when in either of itson-positions by conductors 76 and 73 to line L.

The remaining control circuits are either similar to that last traced orso obviously related thereto and associated therewith as to require nofurther description, whereas the circuits of the several pilot lightsare likewise obvious.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a controller for a plurality of light-- ing circuits, incombination, individual electromagnetic switches for controlling thecontinuity of such circuits, individual current control means for saidcircuits each including a rheostat, and a remote control switchboardcomprising interchangeable sections each including an operating memberfor certain ofsaid. rheostats and a pair of double throw switches,certain of said double throw switches being arranged to directly controlone of said electromagnetic switches or to extend the control of saidelectromagnetic switch to another of said double throw switches.

2. In a controller for dimmers and the like, the combination with aplurality of variable reactors to regulate the energy consumption ofindividual load circuits and individual control rheostats for saidreactors, of individual electro-responsive switches for controllingcontinuity of the load circuits, voluntarily operable switches for theenergizing circuits of said electro-responsive switches and voluntarycontrol means, such voluntary instrumentalities being arranged incompact and interchangeable units each unit comprising those elementsrequired to control a single load circuit and each of said elementsbeing of lesser energy handling capacity than that of its associatedload circuit.

3. In a controller for dimmers and the like, -the combination with aplurality of variable reactors to regulate the energy consumption ofindividual load circuits and individual control rheostats for saidreactors, of continuity control means for said load circuits comprisingindividual relays each having independent opening and closing coils,control means for said coils comprising individual double throw switcheseach adapted in one position to complete the circuit of its associatedcoil directly and in a different position to extend the control of suchcoil to a master.

4:. In an illumination control system the combination with a pluralityof lighting circuits and magnetic amplifiers associated with saidcircuits respectively, of a rheostat for controlling the magneticamplifier of each of said circuits, individual electroma netic switchesfor control ofthe continuity 0 such circuits anda remote control switchboard comprisin interchangeable sections each having a r eostatoperating lever and a pair of manuall operated swltches, certain of saidmanual operated switches being adapted to direct y control one of saidelectromagnetic switches or to extend the control of such switch to amanually operated switch of another of said sections.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name. a I

a r ARTHUR SIMON.

